Radio communication device and radio communication method

ABSTRACT

A radio communication device includes: clock generation means ( 31 A to  31 D,  30 ) for generating a plurality of clocks; data signal generation means ( 204, 203 ) for inputting transmission signals of a plurality of types to be transmitted and generating a plurality of data signals including the plurality of types of transmission signals correlated to the transmission channel for use among transmission channels defined based on the plurality of clocks; multiplexing means ( 201 ) for multiplexing the plurality of data signals to generate a transmission signal; and signal transmission means ( 11 ) for radio-transmitting the transmission signal. In consequence, it is possible to provide a radio communication device and method capable of further improving the transmission efficiency of information with a simple structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a radio communication device for use ina cellular phone communication system or the like, and moreparticularly, it relates to a radio communication device and a radiocommunication method for performing radio communication via multiplechannels.

BACKGROUND ART

As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional cellular phone system comprises aportable terminal (cellular phone) 100, and a base station 200.

Here, the portable terminal 100 generally has a transmission section 11,a reception section 12, a mixing device 13, an antenna 14, acommunication control section 15, a crystal oscillator 16, a clockcontrol section 17, a data control section 22, an operation/displaysection 23, a loudspeaker 24, a microphone 25 and the like.

In such a portable terminal 100, for example, a voice signalcorresponding to user's voice output from the microphone 25 is suppliedto the data control section 22, and converted into voice data having apredetermined form. This voice data is converted into a transmissionsignal of a predetermined channel in the communication control section15, and this transmission signal is supplied to the transmission section11. The transmission section 11 modulates a carrier wave (e.g., 800 MHzband) of a frequency corresponding to the channel based on thetransmission signal from the communication control section 15 togenerate a transmission signal. Then, the transmission signal isradiated from the antenna 14 through the mixing device 13.

When the transmission signal radiated from the portable terminal 100 inthis manner is received in the base station 200, demodulation isperformed, and the transmission signal (voice signal) is separated froma carrier wave component of the frequency corresponding to the channel.Moreover, the transmission signal is sent from the base station 200 to atarget terminal (portable terminal, fixed telephone set, or the like)via a predetermined communication network (mobile communication network,fixed telephone network, or the like).

On the other hand, on acquiring the signal (voice signal) from thetarget terminal via a predetermined communication network, the basestation 200 modulates the carrier wave (band which is away from afrequency band utilized by the portable terminal by a predeterminedfrequency width) corresponding to the predetermined channel based on thesignal to generate the transmission signal. Then, the transmissionsignal is radiated from the antenna of the base station 200.

The transmission signal thus radiated from the base station 200 isreceived by the antenna 14 of the portable terminal, and is supplied asa reception signal to the reception section 12 via the mixing device 13.The reception section 12 sends the reception signal to the communicationcontrol section 15. The communication control section 15 detects thechannel used in the base station 200 from the reception signal, andseparates the transmission signal (voice signal) from the carrier wavecomponent of the frequency corresponding to the channel. Thetransmission signal is supplied to the data control section 22, and thedata control section 22 generates the voice signal from the suppliedtransmission signal, and drives the loudspeaker 24 based on the voicesignal. As a result, the loudspeaker 24 outputs a voice corresponding tothe voice signal.

When processing is performed in accordance with the above-describedprocedure, voice communication is possible between the portable terminaland the terminal of the target.

Furthermore, in the portable terminal 100, an output clock from thecrystal oscillator 16 is supplied to the communication control section15 via the clock control section 17, and the communication controlsection 15 sets, as a channel to be used, any of channels atpredetermined frequency intervals defined based on the supplied clock.That is, as shown in FIG. 9, as to a received wave, a single receptionchannel to be actually used is set from reception channels CHRX at thepredetermined frequency intervals from a top frequency (e.g., 800 MHz).As to a transmitted wave, a single transmission channel to be actuallyused is set from transmission channels CHTX at the predeterminedfrequency intervals from a frequency away from a last frequency of thereceived wave by the predetermined frequency width (e.g., 130 MHz).

Moreover, there is proposed a radio communication device whichtransmits/receives two data strings in the single channel (equalfrequency). It is to be noted that this technique is described inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-136206 (Patent Document 1).

The conventional radio communication device phase-modulates a firstinput signal to generate a phase-modulated signal, amplitude-modulates asecond input signal to generate an amplitude-modulated signal, andmultiplies the phase-modulated signal by the amplitude-modulated signal.Then, a signal obtained by the multiplication is transmitted via thesingle channel. The radio communication device on a reception sidesynchronously detects the reception signal to thereby acquire a firstoutput signal corresponding to the first input signal, and detects anenvelope curve of the reception signal to thereby acquire a secondoutput signal corresponding to the second input signal. According tosuch a conventional radio communication device, since two data stringsare transmitted and received via the single channel, a transmissionefficiency of information can be improved.

However, in this conventional radio communication device, only two typesof data strings can be simultaneously transmitted and received, andthere is a limitation on the improvement of the transmission efficiencyof the information. Additionally in the conventional device, two typesof modulation systems and corresponding two types of demodulationsystems (detection systems) have to be employed, and its constitutionhas been comparatively complicated.

Furthermore, in recent years, it has been possible to transmit videobetween the radio communication devices. In a case where the video istransmitted and received, since a data amount is large and further thedata needs to be compressed or uncompressed, a transmission speed hasbeen very low. In addition, a considerable time has been required indisplaying the video in a screen in the radio communication device.Therefore, it has been one problem in a communication field to enablethe high-speed transmission of the video.

The present invention has been developed in view of such situations, andan object of the present invention is to provide a radio communicationdevice and a radio communication method in which a transmissionefficiency of information can be further improved with a simplerstructure, and the high-speed communication of video is possible.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To solve this problem, the present invention has been developed.

A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a radiocommunication device comprising clock generation means for generating aplurality of clocks; data signal generation means for inputting aplurality of transmission signals to be transmitted, settingtransmission channels for use among transmission channels defined basedon the plurality of clocks, and generating a plurality of data signalsincluding the transmission signals correlated to these set transmissionchannels; multiplexing means for multiplexing the plurality of datasignals generated by the data signal generation means to generate atransmission signal; and signal transmission means forradio-transmitting the transmission signal obtained by the multiplexingmeans.

According to this constitution, a plurality of or a plurality of typesof transmission signals can be multiplexed and transmitted using theplurality of set transmission channels among the transmission channelsdefined by the plurality of clocks. That is, the plurality of signalscan be simultaneously sent. Therefore, a transmission efficiency ofinformation can be further improved, and hence, high-speed communicationcan be realized by a comparatively simple structure.

Additionally, for example, a certain utilization mode can be realizedsuch as a mode in which data communication of a complete moving image orthe like can be simultaneously performed by a personal computerconnected to a cellular phone while voice communication is done by theone cellular phone. It is also possible to increase subscriber cellularphones in a limited use frequency band, and the device is remarkablyuseful.

Furthermore, in the radio communication device according to the presentinvention, the clock generation means can be constituted so as to have aplurality of clock oscillators which individually generate the pluralityof clocks.

A second aspect of the present invention is directed to the above radiocommunication device wherein the clock generation means generates, byuse of a way such as frequency division, the plurality of clocks fromclocks which are output from a single oscillator.

A third aspect of the present invention is directed to the above radiocommunication device which further comprises video accepting means foroutputting a video signal based on a taken video; and video divisionmeans for dividing the video signal, wherein the data signal generationmeans inputs the divided video signals as video data, sets thetransmission channels for use among the transmission channels definedbased on the plurality of clocks, and generates the plurality of datasignals including the video data correlated to these set transmissionchannels.

According to this constitution, it is possible to multiplex and transmita plurality of video data after divided by use of the plurality of settransmission channels among the transmission channels defined by theplurality of clocks. In consequence, a plurality of video data can betransmitted simultaneously in parallel with one another, whereby thehigh-speed communication of the video is possible.

Additionally, since the high-speed communication of the video data canbe realized by the multiplexing transmission, necessity for compressingor uncompressing decreases. Therefore, a time required in thecompressing or uncompressing can be reduced, and accordingly the videocan be transmitted at a higher speed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a radiocommunication device comprising clock generation means for generating aplurality of clocks; signal reception means for receiving aradio-transmitted signal, and outputting a reception signal; signalseparation means for separating a plurality of data signals from thereception signal; channel correlation means for correlating a receptionchannel for use among reception channels defined by the plurality ofclocks to the plurality of data signals obtained by the signalseparation means; and transmission signal extraction means forseparating a transmission signal from the data signal correlated to thereception channel for use based on the plurality of clocks.

According to this constitution, the transmission signal corresponding toeach reception channel can be extracted from the reception signalincluding a plurality of multiplexed reception channels.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the above radiocommunication device which has video generation means for generatingvideo data from the transmission signal obtained by the transmissionsignal extraction means; and video combination means for combining aplurality of video data to obtain a video signal.

According to this constitution, the video data is generated from theextracted transmission signal, and the plurality of video data can becombined to obtain the video signal. Therefore, the multiplexed videodata can be received by the radio communication device, and high-speedtransmission of the video can be realized between the radiocommunication devices.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to a radiocommunication device comprising clock generation means for generating aplurality of clocks; data signal generation means for inputting aplurality of transmission signals to be transmitted, settingtransmission channels for use among transmission channels defined basedon the plurality of clocks, and generating a plurality of data signalsincluding the transmission signals correlated to these set transmissionchannels; multiplexing means for multiplexing the plurality of datasignals generated by the data signal generation means to generate atransmission signal; signal transmission means for radio-transmittingthe transmission signal obtained by the multiplexing means; signalreception means for receiving the radio-transmitted signal, andoutputting a reception signal; signal separation means for separatingthe plurality of data signals from the reception signal; channelcorrelation means for correlating a reception channel for use amongreception channels defined by the plurality of clocks to the pluralityof data signals obtained by the signal separation means; andtransmission signal extraction means for separating the transmissionsignal from the data signal correlated to the reception channel for usebased on the plurality of clocks.

This constitution can realize the radio communication device whichmultiplexes and transmits a plurality of types of transmission signalsby use of a plurality of set transmission channels among thetransmission channels defined by the plurality of clocks and whichextracts the transmission signal corresponding to each reception channelfrom the reception signal including the plurality of multiplexedreception channels.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is directed to the above radiocommunication device, further comprising video accepting means fortaking a video to output a video signal, and video division means fordividing the video signal, wherein the data signal generation meansinputs the divided video signals as video data, sets the transmissionchannels for use among the transmission channels defined based on theplurality of clocks, and generates the plurality of data signalsincluding the video data correlated to these set transmission channels;and the radio communication device comprises video generation means forgenerating video data from the transmission signal obtained by thetransmission signal extraction means; and video combination means forcombining a plurality of video data to obtain the video signal.

This constitution can realize a radio communication device whichmultiplexes and transmits the plurality of video data after divided byuse of the plurality of set transmission channels from the transmissionchannels defined by the plurality of clocks. In addition, the deviceextracts the transmission signal corresponding to each reception channelfrom the reception signal including the plurality of multiplexedreception channels, generates the video data from the transmissionsignal, and combines the plurality of video data to obtain the videosignal. Therefore, multiplexing and transmission/reception of the videodata are possible, and high-speed communication can be realized.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is directed to a radiocommunication method comprising the steps of setting transmissionchannels for use among transmission channels defined based on clocksgenerated by a plurality of clock generation means; generating aplurality of data signals including transmission signals correlated tothe set transmission channels; multiplexing a plurality of data signalsto generate a transmission signal; and radio-transmitting thetransmission signal.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is directed to the above radiocommunication method, further comprising the steps of outputting a videosignal based on a taken video; dividing the video signal; inputting thedivided video signals as video data, and setting the transmissionchannels for use among the transmission channels defined based on theclocks generated by the plurality of clock generation means; andgenerating the plurality of data signals including the video datacorrelated to the set transmission channels.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is directed to a radiocommunication method comprising the steps of receiving aradio-transmitted signal to generate a reception signal; separating aplurality of data signals from the reception signal; correlating areception channel for use among reception channels defined by aplurality of clocks to the plurality of data signals; and separating atransmission signal from the data signal correlated to the receptionchannel for use based on the plurality of clocks.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is directed to the aboveradio communication method, further comprising the steps of generatingvideo data from the transmission signal obtained by transmission signalextraction means; and combining a plurality of video data to obtain avideo signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a constitution of a radiocommunication device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed constitution of the radiocommunication device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing reception channels and transmission channelsdefined by four clocks;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a constitution of a radiocommunication device according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed constitution of the radiocommunication device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing that video is divided, correlated to achannel for use among the channels defined by four clocks, and furthercombined;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a constitution which realizes videocommunication in a base station provided with a conversion unit;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of a communication systemincluding a conventional radio communication device; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing reception channels and transmission channelsdefined by clocks used in the radio communication device shown in FIG.8.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a radiocommunication device is constituted as shown in FIG. 1. For example, theradio communication device is constituted as a cellular phone terminal.

In FIG. 1, a radio communication device 10 a has a transmission section11, a reception section 12, a mixing device 13, an antenna 14, acommunication control section 20, a data control section 22, anoperation/display section 23, a loudspeaker 24, a microphone 25, a clockcontrol section 30, and four crystal oscillators 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D.

Here, each of the four crystal oscillators 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31Dgenerates its own clock, and supplies the clock to the clock controlsection 30.

The clock control section 30 supplies to the communication controlsection 20 four reference clocks of a clock A (corresponding to theclock from the crystal oscillator 31A), a clock B (corresponding to theclock from the crystal oscillator 31B), a clock C (corresponding to theclock from the crystal oscillator 31C), and a clock D (corresponding tothe clock from the crystal oscillator 31D) at predetermined timings.

It is to be noted that in the present embodiment, the four crystaloscillators 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D, and the clock control section 30 aregenerically referred to as “clock generation means”.

The transmission section (signal transmission means) 11 subjects amultiplexed transmission signal from the communication control section20 to a predetermined modulation process, and transmits the multiplexedtransmission signal after the modulation process. The multiplexed signalsubjected to the modulation processing is radiated from the antenna 14through the mixing device 13.

The reception section (signal reception means) 12 sends a receptionsignal from the mixing device 13 to the communication control section20. As to the reception signal, the transmission signal radiated fromthe base station 200 (see FIG. 8) is received by the antenna 14, and issupplied to the reception section 12 via the mixing device 13.

The data control section 22 supplies to the communication controlsection 20 a voice signal corresponding to user's voice from themicrophone 25, or a data signal (representing, e.g., images, characters,etc.) supplied from the outside via a data input/output multiconnector22 a.

Moreover, the data control section 22 performs processing with respectto a transmission signal supplied from the communication control section20. For example, when the transmission signal supplied from thecommunication control section 20 is concerned with a voice, thetransmission signal is converted into a voice signal, and the voicesignal is supplied to the loudspeaker 24. When the transmission signalrelates to data (representing, e.g., images, characters, etc.), thetransmission signal is converted into a data signal, or supplied as thetransmission signal to the operation/display section 23 or the outsidewithout being processed.

The communication control section 20 sets as a channel to be used any ofchannels having predetermined frequencies (e.g., 15 KHz to 25 KHz),defined based on the four clocks of the respective clocks A, B, C, Dfrom the clock control section 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, as to areceived wave (e.g., 810 MHz band), a reception channel CHRX(An) to beactually used is set from reception channels CHRX(A) defined by theclock A, a reception channel CHRX(Bn) to be actually used is set fromreception channels CHRX(B) defined by the clock B, a reception channelCHRX(Cn) to be actually used is set from reception channels CHRX(C)defined by the clock C, and a reception channel CHRX(Dn) to be actuallyused is set from reception channels CHRX(D) defined by the clock D. Asto a transmitted wave (e.g., 940 MHz band), a transmission channelCHTX(An) to be actually used is set from transmission channels CHTX(A)defined by the clock A, a transmission channel CHTX(Bn) to be actuallyused is set from transmission channels CHTX(B) defined by the clock B, atransmission channel CHTX(Cn) to be actually used is set fromtransmission channels CHTX(C) defined by the clock C, and a transmissionchannel CHTX(Dn) to be actually used is set from transmission channelsCHTX(D) defined by the clock D.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, this communication control section 20has a data separating/multiplexing section 201, a system logic 202, adata matrix 203, and a signal transmission section 204.

The data separating/multiplexing section (signal separation means) 201separates four data signals from a reception signal from the receptionsection 12.

The system logic 202 corrects a distortion of each of the four datasignals from the data separating/multiplexing section 201 to supply thesignal to the data matrix 203.

The data matrix (channel correlation means) 203 correlates each of thefour data signals to the reception channels CHRX(An), CHRX(Bn),CHRX(Cn), CHRX(Dn) for use among the reception channels CHRX(A),CHRX(B), CHRX(C), CHRX(D) defined by the respective clocks A, B, C, andD (setting of the reception channels).

The signal transmission section (transmission signal extraction means)204 separates the transmission signal (e.g., voice signal, etc.) fromthe data signal correlated to each of the reception channels CHRX(An),CHRX(Bn), CHRX(Cn), CHRX(Dn) based on the clocks A, B, C, and D from theclock control section 30, and supplies the transmission signal to thedata control section 22.

Moreover, the signal transmission section 204 inputs each transmissionsignal (e.g., voice signal, etc.) to be transmitted from the datacontrol section 22, and generates a data signal including fourtransmission signals based on the clocks A, B, C, and D from the clockcontrol section 30.

The data matrix 203 correlates each of the data signals from the signaltransmission section 204 to the transmission channels CHTX(An),CHTX(Bn), CHTX(Cn), CHTX(Dn) for use among the transmission channelsCHTX(A), CHTX(B), CHTX(C), CHTX(D) defined by the respective clocks A,B, C, and D (setting of the transmission channels).

The system logic 202 performs processing such as waveform adjustmentwith respect to the respective data signals correlated to thetransmission channels CHTX(An), CHTX(Bn), CHTX(Cn), CHTX(Dn) by the datamatrix 203, and supplies the respective data signals to the dataseparating/multiplexing section 201.

The data separating/multiplexing section (multiplexing means) 201multiplexes the respective supplied data signals to generate atransmission signal, and supplies the transmission signal to thetransmission section 11. Therefore, the transmission signal generated inthe data separating/multiplexing section 201 is obtained by combiningfour (or mixing four) data signals correlated to the transmissionchannels CHTX(An), CHTX(Bn), CHTX(Cn), CHTX(Dn) by the data matrix 203.

In this data separating/multiplexing section 201, the number of gates isplused (increased) than before. In a conventional portable terminal 100,only one crystal oscillator 16 was disposed, and only A band was used.On the other hand, in the radio communication device 10 of the presentinvention, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) crystaloscillators 31 are disposed, and a plurality of bands (A to D bands(four systems) in the present embodiment) are used.

It is to be noted that each of the gates disposed in the dataseparating/multiplexing section 201 can be realized by use of the gatedescribed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.11-317775 “Device for transmitting combined Data/Clock Signal”.

The transmission section 11 transmits the transmission signal suppliedfrom the data separating/multiplexing section 201.

In this radio communication device (e.g., cellular phone, etc.), a voicesignal, image data, and text data can be simultaneouslytransmitted/received using the channel (transmission or receptionchannel) for use set from the channels (transmission or receptionchannels) defined by each of four clocks A, B, C, and D. Since thechannels defined by four clocks are utilized, more information can besimultaneously transmitted/received as compared with a conventionalradio communication device which transmits a signal via a channel setamong channels defined by a single clock. Furthermore, in acommunication system utilizing this radio communication device, thenumber of interruptible channels increases even in a case wherecommunication is congested, such as a time of disaster. Therefore, aresistance to congestion is also improved. The number of communicationcircuits can be increased without expanding the existing radio waveband.

It is to be noted that in the above-described example, four clocks areused, but the number of the clocks is not especially limited as long asthe number of the clocks for defining the channels is two or more.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the data matrix 203 and the signaltransmission section 204 perform processing of “inputting a plurality oftransmission signals to be transmitted, setting transmission channelsfor use among transmission channels defined based on the respectiveclocks, and generating a plurality of data signals including therespective transmission signals correlated to these set transmissionchannels”. Therefore, the data matrix 203 and the signal transmissionsection 204 are generically referred to as “data signal generationmeans”.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of a radio communication device and a radiocommunication method of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a constitution of the radiocommunication device of the present embodiment.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that,in addition to a voice signal and the like, a video signal can bedivided/multiplexed and transmitted/received. That is, in the firstembodiment, the voice signal and the like are mainly objects ofmultiplexing communication. On the other hand, the present embodiment isdifferent in that a plurality of types of signals including the videosignal are objects of the multiplexing communication. The video signalcan be divided into the predetermined number of signals, and a pluralityof video data after divided are correlated to channels for use amongchannels defined based on a plurality of clocks, and can betransmitted/received. Other constituting elements are similar to thoseof the first embodiment.

Therefore, in FIG. 4, constituting components similar to those of FIG. 1are denoted with the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptionis omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, a radio communication device 10 b has a transmissionsection 11, a reception section 12. a mixing device 13, an antenna 14, acommunication control section 20, a data control section 22, anoperation/display section 23, a loudspeaker 24, a microphone 25, animage pickup section 26, a clock control section 30, and four crystaloscillators 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D.

Here, the image pickup section (video signal input/output section) 26 ismeans for photographing video, and, for example, a CCD camera or thelike is usable. The video taken in by the image pickup section 26 issent as the video signal to the data control section 22. It is to benoted that the image pickup section 26 can receive the video signal fromanother device (device having a function of photographing, processing,and editing the video).

The data control section 22 supplies to the communication controlsection 20 a voice signal corresponding to user's voice from themicrophone 25, a data signal (representing, e.g., images, characters,etc.) supplied from the outside (supply path is not shown), and thevideo signal from the image pickup section 26. The data control section22 performs processing with respect to a transmission signal suppliedfrom the communication control section 20. For example, when thetransmission signal supplied from the communication control section 20relates to the video, the transmission signal is converted and generatedinto the video signal. Alternatively, the signal is supplied as thetransmission or video signal to the operation/display section 23 or theoutside (via a data input/output multiconnector 22 a or the like).

The data input/output multiconnector 22 a is an interface for exchangingthe video signal with the outside, and can be connected to a videoprocessing unit 300 as shown in FIG. 5. For example, a universal serialbus (USB) or the like can be used in this connection.

The video processing unit 300 is a unit having one or more of functionsconcerning the video (e.g., functions such as photographing, recording,processing (editing, dividing, combining, etc.), display, externalinput/output (transmission/reception)). Example of the unit include apersonal computer, a digital camera, a digital video, a discplayer/recorder (CD, MD, DVD, etc.), a video cassette recorder, acellular phone, a PHS, a PDA and the like. The video signal istransmitted/received between the video processing unit 300 and the datacontrol section 22.

It is to be noted that in FIG. 5, the image pickup section 26 and thevideo processing unit 300 are individually shown, and the data controlsection 22 can receive the video signal from one or both of the imagepickup section 26 and the video processing unit 300.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the image pickup section 26outputs the video signal based on the taken video, the section has afunction of “video accepting means”. Additionally, since the datainput/output multiconnector 22 a also takes in the video from anexternal unit (video processing unit 300) to output the video signal,the multiconnector can be included in the “video accepting means”.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the data control section 22 has a videostorage section 221, a video dividing section 222, a form convertingsection 223, a video generating section 224, a video combining section225, and an operation/display control section 226.

The video storage section 221 stores: the video signal sent from theimage pickup section 26 or the video processing unit 300; the videosignal (video data) divided in the video dividing section 222; thetransmission signal (video signal) sent from a signal transmissionsection 204 of the communication control section 20; the video datagenerated in the video generating section 224; the video signal combinedin the video combining section 223 and the like. Additionally, a voicesignal, text data and the like can be stored,

The video dividing section (video division means) 222 divides the videosignal (or the video signal taken out of the video storage section 221)sent from the image pickup section 26 or the video processing unit 300(FIG. 6(a)). As a technique for dividing the video signal, it ispossible to use an arbitrary and preferable technique which hasheretofore been known. The number of divisions is not especiallylimited, and an arbitrary number may be set. Additionally, the divisionscan be set to be as many as or less than clocks generated from clockgeneration means (clock control section 30 and crystal oscillators 31Ato 31D). Each (video data) of the video signals divided in the videodividing section 222 can be sent and stored in the video storage section221.

The form converting section 223 converts the video data after dividedinto a predetermined form. This converted video data is sent to thesignal transmission section 204 of the communication control section 20.

The video generating section (video generation means) 224 generates thevideo data from the transmission signal sent from the signaltransmission section 204.

The video combining section (video combination means) 225 combines aplurality of video data generated in the video generating section 224(FIG. 6(c)). The combined video data (video signal) is sent and storedin the video storage section 221. It is to be noted that as a techniquefor combining the video data, an arbitrary and preferable techniquewhich has heretofore been known can be used.

The operation/display control section 224 takes the video signal fromthe video storage section 221, and sends the signal to theoperation/display section 23 to display the signal in a screen.

As shown in FIG. 5, the communication control section 20 has a dataseparating/multiplexing section 201, a system logic 202, a data matrix203, and the signal transmission section 204.

The signal transmission section 204 inputs the vide data to betransmitted from the data control section 22, and generates a datasignal including four transmission signals based on clocks A, B, C, andD from the clock control section 30 (FIG. 6(b)). The generated datasignal is sent to the data matrix 203.

Moreover, the signal transmission section 204 separates the transmissionsignal (video data) from the data signal correlated to each of receptionchannels CHRX(An), CHRX(Bn), CHRX(Cn), CHRX(Dn) based on the clocks A,B, C, and D from the clock control section 30, and supplies thetransmission signal to the data control section 22.

It is to be noted that since the data separating/multiplexing section201, the system logic 202, and the data matrix 203 execute operationsand processes similar to those of the data separating/multiplexingsection 201, the system logic 202, and the data matrix 203 in the firstembodiment, the description is omitted here.

When the radio communication device is constituted in this manner, thevideo signal is divided, and the video data after divided can besimultaneously transmitted/received using the channel (transmission,reception channel) for use set from the channels (transmission,reception channels) defined by the four clocks A, B, C, D. By use of thechannels defined by the four clocks, more information can besimultaneously transmitted/received as compared with a conventionalradio communication device which transmits a signal via a channel setfrom the channels defined by a single clock. Therefore, sincemultiplexing communication is possible also with respect to the video,the high-speed communication of the video can be realized.

Furthermore, in a communication system utilizing this radiocommunication device, the number of interruptible channels increaseseven in a case where communication is congested, such as a time ofdisaster. Therefore, a resistance to congestion is also improved. Thenumber of communication circuits can be increased without expanding theexisting radio wave band.

It is to be noted that in the present embodiment, the video signal isdivided and multiplexed to make possible transmission/reception in theradio communication device. For example, in a case where four crystaloscillators 31 are disposed, A and B bands are used fortransmission/reception of the video, C band is used fortransmission/reception of a voice, and D band is used for packetcommunication. Thus, different types of signals can betransmitted/received via the respective bands.

Additionally, in a case where the radio communication device of thepresent invention is disposed on a transmission side of the video, and aconventional portable terminal is disposed on a reception side, thereception side can only receive the transmission signal including thetransmission signal correlated to the transmission channel for use amongthe transmission channels defined based on the same clock as that ownedby itself (e.g., clock A). Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG.7, when the reception side (portable terminal 10-X) has a clock A, thetransmission side (radio communication devices 10-1, 10-2, 10-3)transmits a transmission signal including a plurality of transmissionsignals correlated to a transmission channel for use among transmissionchannels defined based on the respective clocks B, C, D. In this case,the reception side cannot receive the transmitted transmission signals.

When the radio communication device of the present invention is usedtogether with the conventional portable terminal in this manner, asshown in FIG. 7, a base station 200 can be provided with a conversionunit 210 for converting the transmitted signal into the clock theconventional portable terminal has.

More specifically, for example, a signal (voice signal or data signal(excluding a moving image)) which has overflowed from an A data channelis transmitted via a B data channel. In this case, in the base station200, B channel is mixed with A clock, and the clock is changed to Adata+A clock.

In this constitution, even when the transmission signal from thetransmission side includes a plurality of transmission signalscorrelated to the transmission channel for use among the transmissionchannels defined based on each of the clocks B, C, D, the reception sidecan receive the transmission signal.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Since the present invention is a technique for enhancing a transmissionefficiency of data communication, and realizing high-speedcommunication, the present invention can be utilized in a communicationfield.

1. A radio communication device comprising: clock generation means forgenerating a plurality of clocks; data signal generation means forinputting a plurality of transmission signals to be transmitted, settingtransmission channels for use among transmission channels defined basedon the plurality of clocks, and generating a plurality of data signalsincluding the transmission signals correlated to these set transmissionchannels; multiplexing means for multiplexing the plurality of datasignals generated by the data signal generation means to generate atransmission signal; and signal transmission means for modulating thetransmission signal multiplexed by the multiplexing means, andradio-transmitting the modulated signal.
 2. The radio communicationdevice according to claim 1, wherein the clock generation means has aplurality of clock oscillators which individually generate the pluralityof clocks.
 3. The radio communication device according to claim 2,further comprising: video accepting means for outputting a video signalbased on a taken video; and video division means for dividing the videosignal, wherein the data signal generation means inputs the dividedvideo signals as video data, sets the transmission channels for useamong the transmission channels defined based on the plurality ofclocks, and generates the plurality of data signals including the videodata correlated to these set transmission channels.
 4. The radiocommunication device according to claim 1, comprising: clock generationmeans for generating a plurality of clocks; signal reception means forreceiving a radio-transmitted signal, and outputting a reception signal;signal separation means for separating a plurality of data signals fromthe reception signal; channel correlation means for correlating areception channel for use among reception channels defined by theplurality of clocks to the plurality of data signals obtained by thesignal separation means; and transmission signal extraction means forseparating a transmission signal from the data signal correlated to thereception channel for use based on the plurality of clocks.
 5. The radiocommunication device according to claim 4, further comprising: videogeneration means for generating video data from the transmission signalobtained by the transmission signal extraction means; and videocombination means for combining a plurality of video data to obtain avideo signal.
 6. A radio communication device comprising: clockgeneration means for generating a plurality of clocks; data signalgeneration means for inputting a plurality of transmission signals to betransmitted, setting transmission channels for use among transmissionchannels defined based on the plurality of clocks, and generating aplurality of data signals including the transmission signals correlatedto these set transmission channels; multiplexing means for multiplexingthe plurality of data signals generated by the data signal generationmeans to generate a transmission signal; signal transmission means formodulating the transmission signal multiplexed by the multiplexingmeans, and radio-transmitting the modulated signal; signal receptionmeans for receiving the radio-transmitted signal, and outputting areception signal; signal separation means for separating the pluralityof data signals from the reception signal; channel correlation means forcorrelating a reception channel for use among reception channels definedby the plurality of clocks to the plurality of data signals obtained bythe signal separation means; and transmission signal extraction meansfor separating the transmission signal from the data signal correlatedto the reception channel for use based on the plurality of clocks. 7.The radio communication device according to claim 6, further comprising:video accepting means for taking a video to output a video signal; andvideo division means for dividing the video signal, wherein the datasignal generation means inputs the divided video signals as video data,sets the transmission channels for use among the transmission channelsdefined based on the plurality of clocks, and generates the plurality ofdata signals including the video data correlated to these settransmission channels; and the radio communication device comprises:video generation means for generating video data from the transmissionsignal obtained by the transmission signal extraction means; and videocombination means for combining a plurality of video data to obtain thevideo signal.
 8. A radio communication method comprising the steps of:setting transmission channels for use among transmission channelsdefined based on clocks generated by a plurality of clock generationmeans; generating a plurality of data signals including transmissionsignals correlated to the set transmission channels; multiplexing aplurality of data signals to generate a transmission signal; andmodulating the multiplexed transmission signal and radio-transmittingthe modulated signal.
 9. The radio communication method according toclaim 8, further comprising the steps of: outputting a video signalbased on a taken video; dividing the video signal; inputting the dividedvideo signals as video data, and setting the transmission channels foruse among the transmission channels defined based on the clocksgenerated by the plurality of clock generation means; and generating theplurality of data signals including the video data correlated to the settransmission channels.
 10. The radio communication method according toclaim 8, comprising the steps of: receiving a radio-transmitted signalto generate a reception signal; separating a plurality of data signalsfrom the reception signal; correlating a reception channel for use amongreception channels defined by a plurality of clocks to the plurality ofdata signals; and separating a transmission signal from the data signalcorrelated to the reception channel for use based on the plurality ofclocks.
 11. The radio communication method according to claim 10,further comprising the steps of: generating video data from thetransmission signal obtained by transmission signal extraction means;and combining a plurality of video data to obtain a video signal.